Security containers

ABSTRACT

A security container has two dished parts (1, 2) that can be closed together rim (6) to rim (11), irreversibly engaging and making inaccessible a snap fitting (7, 13) within the container. A strop (3) with loops (4) in its ends has those loops placed over part of the snap fitting (13) before closure, leaving its bight (5) outside. The strop (3) is thus made captive when the container is closed. The strop (5) passes through an aperture formed by cutouts (10, 12) in the rims (6, 11).

This invention relates to security containers. It is particularlyconcerned with small containers housing an electronic device whichshould not be tampered with, and to which physical access is neverrequired. For example, it could be a transponder which may beinterrogated from time to time by a radio frequency identificationdevice. There is no need for a lock and key closure: the containershould be closable about the device with an irreversible action,requiring damage or even destruction to gain access again.

In addition, the container itself should have means for making it secureto a fixed object associated with or being the member to which theelectronic device relates.

It is the aim of this invention to provide such a security container.

According to the present invention there is provided a securitycontainer characterised by two parts that snap together in aneffectively inseparable manner to make a substantially closed chamberapart from an aperture through which a strop with a closed loop canextend, the container internally having a formation over which the loopcan pass with the parts separated, but which is trapped when the partsare snap fitted together.

In the preferred form, the strop has two closed loops, one at each end,whereby both can be passed over the formation to leave the intermediatesection as a bight that lies largely outside the container. The apertureis conveniently formed by a cutaway portion in at least one rim of onepart, the opposed rim co-operating as the container is closed tocomplete the aperture. The aperture may be elongated to accept twopasses of the strop, or there may be a separate aperture for each. Thestrop can thus be passed round an object and its two loops broughttogether and made captive inside the container whose two parts are thenclosed together.

Conveniently, the formation is part of the snap fitting. It may be aninternally barbed socket on one part which receives and retains atoothed pillar on the other part. The barbs will be inaccessible tomanipulation from outside the closed container.

In addition, the container may have externally on at least one partmeans for retaining a label which will give eye-readable informationabout the member to which the container is attached.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a security container,

FIG. 2 is an interior plan view of one part of the container,

FIG. 3 is a section on the line III--III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IV--IV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an interior plan view of another part of the container,

FIG. 6 is a section on the line VI--VI of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a section on the line VII--VII of FIG. 5.

The container has two complementary circular dish-like parts 1 and 2with a strop 3, all in plastics material. The strop has loops 4 at eachend with an intermediate portion 5 that forms a bight outside the closedcontainer while the loops 4 are trapped inside, as described below.

The part 1 has a stepped rim 6 and a central, rectangular pillar 7projecting from the centre of its interior surface well above the rim 6.At its upper end, the pillar has teeth 8, on each of the two largersides, with sloping flanks tapering in towards the top and withundersides substantially at right angles to the pillar. At the base ofthe pillar there are apertures 9 at each of the larger sides, left bythe teeth moulding process. Part of the rim 6 is cut away or reduced at10.

The other part 2 has a stepped rim 11 complementary to the rim 6, andhas a cutaway or reduced portion 12 which will register with the portion10 when the parts are brought together. The bight 5 of the strop 3passes through the resultant slot.

While this symmetrical arrangement is preferred, an adequate slot couldbe obtained by cutting away just one rim. Also, instead of having anelongate slot, two separate apertures, each to take one pass of thestrop, could be provided in a similar manner.

The part 2 also has a socket 13 upstanding from the centre of itsinterior surface to project above the rim 11. Externally it iscylindrical, but internally it is square Externally it is cylindrical,but internally it is square with barbs 14 pointing back from twoopposite sides towards the exterior but with their tips well within thesocket. The dimensions are such that, when the two parts 1 and 2 arebrought together with the pillar 7 entering the socket 13 and the teeth8 snapping past the barbs 14, the rims 6 and 11 firmly engage and thetop of the pillar 7 is left flush with the exterior of the part 2.

The exterior of the part 2 is different from that of the part 1. It ismade flat rather than with a shallow dome and is surrounded by asecondary rim 15 backing the rim 11. At three equidistant positionsaround this rim 15, lugs 16 project inwardly and provide means forholding a circular label (not shown) which can be worked into theshallow circular recess. The lugs 16 are visible in the interior view ofFIG. 5 since matching apertures are left beneath them by the mouldingprocess.

Within the part 2, to one side of the socket 13, there are twointegrally moulded forks 17 for snap fitting and holding a cylindricalelectronic component in the manner of a fuse in an electrical plug. Thisis just one way in which an item to be protected may be held within thecontainer.

It will be understood that, once the component(s) is (or are) in place,the container is made fast to the associated object by passing the bight5 of the strop 3 around it as described and then trapping the loops 4 bythe socket/pillar assembly as the container is closed.

While the strop with both ends captive within the container ispreferred, it may be appropriate just to have one end so trapped. Forexample, the strop may be taken round the associated object and one looppassed through the other loop. Then just the one loop would be placedover the socket 13 before the container is closed.

It will be understood that there could be more than just one pillar andsocket holding the parts together, and if two were provided, each mightreceive one loop 4. Further security may also be obtained by having therims 6, 11 snap together in a positive manner.

I claim:
 1. A security container characterised by two parts (1, 2) thatsnap together in an effectively inseparable manner to make asubstantially closed chamber apart from an aperture (10, 12) throughwhich a strop (3) with a closed loop (4) can extend, the containerinternally having a formation (13) over which the loop (4) can pass withthe parts (1, 2) separated, but which is trapped when the parts are snapfitted together.
 2. A security container as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that the strop (3) has two closed loops (4), one ateach end, whereby both can be passed over the formation (13) to leavethe intermediate section as a bight (5) that lies largely outside thecontainer.
 3. A security container as claimed in claim 1, characterisedin that the aperture is formed by a cutaway portion (10, 12) in at leastone rim (6, 11) of one part, the opposed rim co-operating as thecontainer is closed to complete the aperture.
 4. A security container asclaimed in claim 2, characterised in that the aperture (10, 12) iselongated to accept two passes of the strop (3).
 5. A security containeras claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the formation (13) is partof the snap fitting.
 6. A security container as claimed in claim 5,characterised in that the snap fitting includes an internally barbedsocket (13) on one part which receives and retains a toothed pillar (7).7. A security container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that thecontainer has externally on at least one part (2) means (15, 16) forretaining a label which will give eye-readable information about themember to which the container is attached.